Megatrends such as globalization and urbanization and the growing demand for affordable mobility are the driving forces behind new, more dynamic market requirements and business models. In collaboration with customers and business partners, Schaeffler is actively shaping areas of focus, such as environmentally-friendly drives or urban and interurban mobility by carrying out its own research and development and offers solutions for the "Mobility for tomorrow".
The rail sector plays a key role in this and is hence strategically important for Schaeffler. "We are well positioned to participate in the big trends of the future," Dr. Michael Holzapfel, Director of Rail Sector Management at Schaeffler, says. "This applies to high-speed rail just as it does to freight transportation and urban rail transit. At the same time, we have aligned ourselves to global growth markets and are present in all relevant markets with consulting, engineering, and production capabilities on-site, where the customer needs us."
Michael Holzapfel sees a clear trend towards "lifecycle management" - the theme of Schaeffler's trade show presence at InnoTrans 2014: The monitoring of products' lifecycle costs is becoming more and more significant. It is therefore important that safe, reliable, and durable products are developed and manufactured - products that can then be operated economically throughout their entire operating life. Lifecycle cost optimization requires solutions that extend maintenance intervals without lowering product reliability, ensure that maintenance requirements are kept low, and enable preventive maintenance. To this end, Schaeffler offers solutions that include optimized seals, intelligent relubrication units, and innovative mechatronic systems. Schaeffler's expertise in the field of mechanical components provides a consistently sound basis here.
The component of the roller bearing itself is turning into a mechatronic system with numerous integrated functions. This represents another trend because mechatronics offers new possibilities for improving the cost-effectiveness and reliability of rail vehicles through increased functionality, thus, for example, through roller bearings with integrated sensors enabling data on real-time statuses to be generated and analyzed.
Dr. Michael Holzapfel (46) took over as Director of Sector Management Rail at Schaeffler on May 1, 2014. After completing his studies in mechanical engineering at the RWTH in Aachen, he completed a doctorate about the dynamics of rail vehicle drives. After joining Voith Turbo, he soon took on management responsibilities and, in his last position with the company, was Technical Director for mechanical railway drive systems.
The rail sector plays a key role in this and is hence strategically important for Schaeffler. "We are well positioned to participate in the big trends of the future," Dr. Michael Holzapfel, Director of Rail Sector Management at Schaeffler, says. "This applies to high-speed rail just as it does to freight transportation and urban rail transit. At the same time, we have aligned ourselves to global growth markets and are present in all relevant markets with consulting, engineering, and production capabilities on-site, where the customer needs us."
Michael Holzapfel sees a clear trend towards "lifecycle management" - the theme of Schaeffler's trade show presence at InnoTrans 2014: The monitoring of products' lifecycle costs is becoming more and more significant. It is therefore important that safe, reliable, and durable products are developed and manufactured - products that can then be operated economically throughout their entire operating life. Lifecycle cost optimization requires solutions that extend maintenance intervals without lowering product reliability, ensure that maintenance requirements are kept low, and enable preventive maintenance. To this end, Schaeffler offers solutions that include optimized seals, intelligent relubrication units, and innovative mechatronic systems. Schaeffler's expertise in the field of mechanical components provides a consistently sound basis here.
The component of the roller bearing itself is turning into a mechatronic system with numerous integrated functions. This represents another trend because mechatronics offers new possibilities for improving the cost-effectiveness and reliability of rail vehicles through increased functionality, thus, for example, through roller bearings with integrated sensors enabling data on real-time statuses to be generated and analyzed.
Dr. Michael Holzapfel (46) took over as Director of Sector Management Rail at Schaeffler on May 1, 2014. After completing his studies in mechanical engineering at the RWTH in Aachen, he completed a doctorate about the dynamics of rail vehicle drives. After joining Voith Turbo, he soon took on management responsibilities and, in his last position with the company, was Technical Director for mechanical railway drive systems.
